Introduce yourself

[alharris]

Hi!

I'm an unathletic middle-aged urban geographer living the lockdown life in Toronto, Canada. Like a lot of people, I have gained Covid-19 pounds after stress-eating Cheetos for the past year.

My husband and I used to commute by bike and were once reasonably fit city cyclists, but encroaching age followed by a year spent working from home amid the closure of commercial gyms during the pandemic has meant we've had few opportunities for exercise. Early in 2021 we ordered a Concept2 Model D, and it arrived near the end of March. Neither of us had ever rowed before, but the consensus seemed to be that if one is going to purchase only one fitness machine, a rower is the best all-round workout option.

My first workouts were abysmal: I struggled to row 1000 metres, and my early times were slow (over 2:40/500m). I read quite a lot about rowing technique and watched the Concept2 videos, which helped tremendously with form. I think the most important thing I learned was to slow down the stroke rate (initially I would pull at 35 spm; now I'm down around 23-26, which is far more sustainable and supports stronger pulls over a longer distance).

Week by week I have gradually extended the distance I'm capable of rowing, and a few days ago managed a 5000m row. My average time is currently around 2:30/500m. Now that I can row a decent distance, I'm starting to integrate shorter 'sprints' in between longer rows, and am hoping to gradually reduce my split times. Today, for example, I managed a 1000m sprint in 4:25.8 min (average pace 2:12.9/500m).

Reading online discussions about rowing was quite disheartening at first, particularly when I'd come across casual comments suggesting that even a novice rower should be able to row thousands of metres with a split time of 2:15/500m or under, and that any rower should be able to generate 200 watts. Not me! Not even close! But looking at ranked workouts posted to the Concept2 website has offered a much clearer perspective suggesting that for my gender and age group, I'm not doing so terribly after all.

My rowing goals are modest: to improve a little each time, and to be able to row further and/or faster on a weekly basis. I like simple affirmations, and am particularly motivated by a slogan posted on the wall of my beloved but currently closed gym: "You can do it. You are doing it."

Thank you to those who post helpful suggestions here and in other parts of the forum. Looking forward to following along!

Amy

[Tony Cook]

Hi!

I'm an unathletic middle-aged urban geographer living the lockdown life in Toronto, Canada. Like a lot of people, I have gained Covid-19 pounds after stress-eating Cheetos for the past year.

My husband and I used to commute by bike and were once reasonably fit city cyclists, but encroaching age followed by a year spent working from home amid the closure of commercial gyms during the pandemic has meant we've had few opportunities for exercise. Early in 2021 we ordered a Concept2 Model D, and it arrived near the end of March. Neither of us had ever rowed before, but the consensus seemed to be that if one is going to purchase only one fitness machine, a rower is the best all-round workout option.

My first workouts were abysmal: I struggled to row 1000 metres, and my early times were slow (over 2:40/500m). I read quite a lot about rowing technique and watched the Concept2 videos, which helped tremendously with form. I think the most important thing I learned was to slow down the stroke rate (initially I would pull at 35 spm; now I'm down around 23-26, which is far more sustainable and supports stronger pulls over a longer distance).

Week by week I have gradually extended the distance I'm capable of rowing, and a few days ago managed a 5000m row. My average time is currently around 2:30/500m. Now that I can row a decent distance, I'm starting to integrate shorter 'sprints' in between longer rows, and am hoping to gradually reduce my split times. Today, for example, I managed a 1000m sprint in 4:25.8 min (average pace 2:12.9/500m).

Reading online discussions about rowing was quite disheartening at first, particularly when I'd come across casual comments suggesting that even a novice rower should be able to row thousands of metres with a split time of 2:15/500m or under, and that any rower should be able to generate 200 watts. Not me! Not even close! But looking at ranked workouts posted to the Concept2 website has offered a much clearer perspective suggesting that for my gender and age group, I'm not doing so terribly after all.

My rowing goals are modest: to improve a little each time, and to be able to row further and/or faster on a weekly basis. I like simple affirmations, and am particularly motivated by a slogan posted on the wall of my beloved but currently closed gym: "You can do it. You are doing it."

Thank you to those who post helpful suggestions here and in other parts of the forum. Looking forward to following along!

Amy

Hi Amy,
Looks like you are doing the right things. Great improvements and learning. With your cycling background it looks like you have the mental attitude and will stick with the programme. A 2:12 1,000m is a good benchmark after 6/7 weeks of rowing and you will leap on with ‘newby gains’ over the next few months.

[Dangerscouse]

Hi!

I'm an unathletic middle-aged urban geographer living the lockdown life in Toronto, Canada. Like a lot of people, I have gained Covid-19 pounds after stress-eating Cheetos for the past year.

My husband and I used to commute by bike and were once reasonably fit city cyclists, but encroaching age followed by a year spent working from home amid the closure of commercial gyms during the pandemic has meant we've had few opportunities for exercise. Early in 2021 we ordered a Concept2 Model D, and it arrived near the end of March. Neither of us had ever rowed before, but the consensus seemed to be that if one is going to purchase only one fitness machine, a rower is the best all-round workout option.

My first workouts were abysmal: I struggled to row 1000 metres, and my early times were slow (over 2:40/500m). I read quite a lot about rowing technique and watched the Concept2 videos, which helped tremendously with form. I think the most important thing I learned was to slow down the stroke rate (initially I would pull at 35 spm; now I'm down around 23-26, which is far more sustainable and supports stronger pulls over a longer distance).

Week by week I have gradually extended the distance I'm capable of rowing, and a few days ago managed a 5000m row. My average time is currently around 2:30/500m. Now that I can row a decent distance, I'm starting to integrate shorter 'sprints' in between longer rows, and am hoping to gradually reduce my split times. Today, for example, I managed a 1000m sprint in 4:25.8 min (average pace 2:12.9/500m).

Reading online discussions about rowing was quite disheartening at first, particularly when I'd come across casual comments suggesting that even a novice rower should be able to row thousands of metres with a split time of 2:15/500m or under, and that any rower should be able to generate 200 watts. Not me! Not even close! But looking at ranked workouts posted to the Concept2 website has offered a much clearer perspective suggesting that for my gender and age group, I'm not doing so terribly after all.

My rowing goals are modest: to improve a little each time, and to be able to row further and/or faster on a weekly basis. I like simple affirmations, and am particularly motivated by a slogan posted on the wall of my beloved but currently closed gym: "You can do it. You are doing it."

Thank you to those who post helpful suggestions here and in other parts of the forum. Looking forward to following along!

Amy

Welcome to the forum Amy. It's always worth taking comments like that from other online discussions with a pinch of salt, as there is usually a lot of ego and bravado talking. It's also worth noting that some people compare non Concept 2 rowers and think that they are capable of a lot more than they are in reality. No other machine, apart from the very expensive RP3, will give anything close to a realistic view of capabilites.

Personally, I think you're doing really well as the rower is the least popular machine in a gym for a reason: it is hard and you only improve through hard work. The C2 rankings are far better to use as a benchmark for progress, and don't forget these are the people who are confident enough to post their results, so there are plenty more who won't be.

Keep your goals simple, enjoy the process and frame your results in your mind as slightly secondary, and you will build a great habit and self-discipline that will pull you through the days when you don't want to do it.

[Smeer]

Hello All,
I am 62, active and fit but by no means an athlete. I eat right, drink very occasionally, exercise regularly and have a full social life; HOWEVER, this past May I suffered a Widowmaker Heart Attack. The only risk factor I have is genetics, my BP and cholesterol are low and my arteries are not plaque filled. Initially my heart took a huge hit but fortunately it healed quickly and more importantly correctly and is back within normal range-cardiologist days I can run a marathon if I want but that will not be happening. Instead I purchased a rower!

I’ve had my rower for one month now and I am still working on both my endurance and technique. I hope to continue rowing for life and so wish I was on the water but this will have to do. I am participating in the Holiday Challenge and will participate in others as a way to stay involved and motivated.

Sad to see that this Women’s forum is not active. I met a fabulous diverse group of women 18 years ago at the gym and we continue to stay in touch and be supportive of each other. None of them yet have a Concept2 but I will be working on them.

Good rowing and continued good health to you all!
Sheryl

[jackarabit]

It is quiet here. Like a hotel pool at 5AM. You smell the chlorine, hear the filter, your footsteps echo. Where is everyone? Try the TRAINING subforum. Plenty of row & tell there if you don’t gag on the testosterone

Or the TEAM pages. A few structured activities but no Navy Seal stuff. Meet some folks and let the backstory tell itself gradually. I’m partial to the Forum Flyers team

https://moores4.com/files/Forum_Flyers ... _Guide.pdf

[res;l;ient2022]

I'm 48 years old and getting back to an exercise plan after a rough 2021 health-wise -- my Concept2 Model D arrived at my door right as I was undergoing a microdiscectomy, which would be followed 3 weeks later by lumpectomy for a cancer recurrence. I had radiation last summer, and am now on about 5 years of treatment to keep the cancer at bay.

All of that happened 9 months ago, and just this week I cleared space in my basement for the erg. I was a rower in college and have brutal memories of the CRASH-B's haha. It has been decades since I erged, but I've now rowed 5 out of 5 days, and it is feeling great so far. I already feel a little stronger, more energetic, and my posture has improved.

My goals for now are general fitness and strength, though I tend to like a challenge. My first 2000m, yesterday, was 9:41. Lots of room to improve!

[Danigus]

Hello Ladies,
Just received my Concept2. Haven't worked out on one in 30+ years and trying to figure out the technology . Can anyone tell me how to get the WOD posted to the honor board?

Thank you Danielle

[jackarabit]

Hi Danielle. I understand pushing your WOD result to your personal C2 logbook and/or the C2 rankings pages if the WOD is an eligible distance or time. The current Holiday Challenge has a slate of suggested WODs and an honor board which I think lists only those who reach one or both of the challenge distance goals of 100 or 200k meters. I need a bit of context to understand your idea of honor board but offer that IF you have a personal log book to which you are recording workouts (WODs or not), all meters will automatically register on the Holiday (individual challenge) total on the logbk Challenges page. Tap “Challenges” on the dark blue menu bar to go there.

[Sakly]

Hello Ladies,
Just received my Concept2. Haven't worked out on one in 30+ years and trying to figure out the technology . Can anyone tell me how to get the WOD posted to the honor board?

Thank you Danielle

Hi,
Every WOD performed with ergdata is posted on the honor board. Only preform the workout and push it to your logbook through ergdata.

[jackarabit]

ErgData is the most efficient conduit to get workout data to logbook, whether using the ‘sync workout’ in original version or the auto export in current update. USB upload thru C2 Utility on PC from PM 3, 4, and 5 is still an option, as is manual logging of workout parameters.

Running total of workout meters are determinative of inclusion in honor board lists for individual challenges such as the Holiday (100 or 200k challenge goals). Results of specific workouts are only available in logbook.

[Sakly]

Running total of workout meters are determinative of inclusion in honor board lists for individual challenges such as the Holiday (100 or 200k challenge goals). Results of specific workouts are only available in logbook.

I think Danigus is talking about the daily WOD which has an honor board each day for every participant who performed it.
For today's workout: https://workoutoftheday.cmail19.com/t/y ... dkuuutt-t/

Entries can only be made with ergdata when workout was selected by WOD tab in the app.

[jackarabit]

Thanks S. Clearly I am N t up to speed on daily WOD honors And congrats on your new 500m PB

[Sakly]

Thanks S. Clearly I am N t up to speed on daily WOD honors And congrats on your new 500m PB

I only found out about honor board as I saw the hint in the WOD newsletter mail...

Thx!

[bassongirl]

Hi ladies,

I'm new here and wanted to say hello. I'm a 35y old from Germany, mother of two fabulous boys.
I used to row on water for a short time at university ten years ago. After getting my first child and beginning to work I didn't do much sport except for cycling to work. When i was pregnant with my second child we bought a concept2, but didn't use it that much and then sold it again due to space problems in our apartment.
But now years later, occasionaly suffering from low back pain, we decided to try it again. And now, training for 5 weeks rowing 87k i start to get confidence in my strength again. And being at the 25th percentile at the 5k ranked workouts in my age group isn't that bad . Now i want to train my aerobic fitness to lower my heartrate and getting a stronger back.
I also want to join some challenges. At the moment i'm just challenging my husband . There are some challenges only working as a team. Is there any women's team i can join, because i'm not in a rowing nor fitness club?

I'd love to hear from you.

[Dangerscouse]

Hi ladies,

I'm new here and wanted to say hello. I'm a 35y old from Germany, mother of two fabulous boys.
I used to row on water for a short time at university ten years ago. After getting my first child and beginning to work I didn't do much sport except for cycling to work. When i was pregnant with my second child we bought a concept2, but didn't use it that much and then sold it again due to space problems in our apartment.
But now years later, occasionaly suffering from low back pain, we decided to try it again. And now, training for 5 weeks rowing 87k i start to get confidence in my strength again. And being at the 25th percentile at the 5k ranked workouts in my age group isn't that bad . Now i want to train my aerobic fitness to lower my heartrate and getting a stronger back.
I also want to join some challenges. At the moment i'm just challenging my husband . There are some challenges only working as a team. Is there any women's team i can join, because i'm not in a rowing nor fitness club?

I'd love to hear from you.

I don't think that there are many (or possibly any) women who look at this part of the forum, but you've made a very good comeback into rowing with only five weeks training.

If you wanted to compete in the CTC (Cross Team Challenge), then it has to be a mixture of men, women and at least one LWT.

I'm not sure that there are any women only teams, mainly due to the issue above, but obviously I might be wrong as it's not something that I have ever checked.

I row for Team Oarsome, and there are loads of other options to choose from Sub 7 & Forum Flyers are also very active on here, but as I said, they are all mixed teams, in age, ability and gender.